AstraZeneca marketing practices subject of US probe

AstraZeneca said the US Justice Department is investigating some of its marketing activities in the Los Angeles area.
The company said in a Securities and Exchange Commission filing that it had been notified in January that the US Attorney’s office in Los Angeles was investigating “field promotional activities” in the area served by its regional business center.
AstraZeneca said it had been given little information about the investigation, except that it concerned “the preparation and dissemination of patient education and similar materials to physicians.”
AstraZeneca told the Reuters news agency that it could not predict the outcome of the investigation, which it said could include the payment for damages and the imposition of fine, penalties and administrative remedies.”